CULTIVATION 



75 



"The yield of wheat increased up to thirty inches of 

 water. 



''Crops in an arid district require a greater number of 

 pounds of water for one pound of dry matter than in 

 humid climates.'^ 



The experiments cited do not include alfalfa, yet the 

 results with other crops would indicate that the percent- 

 age of protein in alfalfa hay may be less where the crop 

 is grown by irrigation than where it is grown by dry- 

 land farming. The composition of the hay, however, 

 will depend upon the quantity of water supplied to the 

 crop and not upon the method; that is, alfalfa which 

 receives as much natural rainfall as other alfalfa would 

 receive by irrigation, would be similarly affected in com- 

 position, and from the experiments with grains reported 

 in the bulletin noted, it would appear that with the appli- 

 cation of large quantities of water the percentage of 

 protein is decreased; yet, the yield is increased, and 

 although the feeding value of the crop may be a little 

 less, the quantity may be greater, due to large applica- 

 tions of water. 



Professor Ten Eyck compiled from their station 

 bulletins the following figures on the composition of 

 alfalfa hay in four different states : 



New Jersey. 

 Colorado... 



Utah 



Kansas . . . . 



Bulletin 

 Number 



Protein 



Carbo- 

 hydrates 



Fat 



148 



39 



61 



114 



Per Cent, 



1584 



17,36 



9.22 



11.89 



Per Cent, 



3?-97 

 36.71 



43-25 

 41.03 



Per Cent. 



382 



165 



•97 

 .66 



Number of 

 Analyses 



9 

 29 



3 



